2016 Journey

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This year Shepherd of the Valley is sending five ambassadors to visit our partners in Tanzania. The group departs Monday, July 4 and returns Wednesday, July 20.  Kirsten will remain in Tanzania through July 30.  Peter and Jenny Harrits will be in Iringa during July, and plan to join our group for a few days in Tungamalenga.

Here's what is planned for each day -- but things can change when amazing opportunities come our way!

Mon, July 4: Depart Minneapolis/Saint Paul. Layover in Amsterdam.

Tue, July 5-: Arrive Dar es Salaam. Overnight at Wista’s Inn.

Wed, July 6-: Drive from Dar to Iringa. Watch the transition from the urban, coastal environment of Dar es Salaam to the agricultural setting of Iringa and the Southern Highlands. Drive through Mikumi National Park. Overnight at the Iringa Lutheran Center.

Thur, July 7: Get Acclimated to Iringa.  Visit the Diocese Head Office.  Stretch your legs by walking through the town’s markets.  Visit Huruma Orphanage and spend time playing with the children.   Overnight at the Iringa Lutheran Center.

Fri, July 8: Get Acclimated to Iringa.  Visit the University and tour Neema crafts.  Spend time shopping at Massai craft market.  Prepare for our visit to our companion parish with local purchases of medicines, mosquito nets, and bikes. Overnight at the Iringa Lutheran Center.

Sat, July 9: Bus drive to Tungamalenga.  Welcome reception at Tungamalenga.  Tour Tungamalenga dispensary. Tungamalenga preaching point visits:  Mapogoro & Kibaoni.
Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp

Sun, July 10: Companion Parish Visit. Sunday worship at Tungamalenga parish. Joining us for the next couple days will be Peter and Jenny Harrits, and Jenny's parents, Ron & Chris Buckley. Tungamalenga preaching point visit: Namelok. Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp

Mon, July 11: Companion Parish Visit.  Tungamalenga preaching point visits:  Kitisi and Mpalapande.  Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp

Tue, July 12: Safari.  Travel to Ruaha National Park. Half day of game drives.
Overnight in Ruaha at Mwagusi Lodge.

Wed, July 13: Safari.  Ruaha National Park. Full day of game drives.
Overnight in Ruaha at Mwagusi Lodge. 

Thur, July 14: Travel to Tungamalenga Camp.  Visit Idodi Secondary School.  Meet and visit with some SOTV scholarship students. Visit Idodi preaching point. Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp.
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Fri, July 15: Companion Parish Visit.  Visit Makifu preaching points: Kisilwa, Misufi, Mahove, Ikwavila. Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp

Sat, July 16: Companion Parish Visit.  Visit Makifu preaching points: Isanga, Malunde, Makambalala. Overnight at Tungamalenga

Sun, July 17: Final Companion Parish Visit and Travel to Iringa.  Sunday worship at Mahuninga preaching point; farewells; & bus to Iringa. Overnight at the Iringa Lutheran Center

Mon, July 18: Depart Iringa and Travel to Morogoro.  Visit Ilula Hospital; bus to Morogoro.
Overnight in Morogoro

Tue, July 19: Bus to Dar es Salaam.  Enjoy a sunset dinner along the Indian Ocean. Head to the Airport for flights home.

Wed, July 20: Return Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport.

*The itinerary is tentative. Specific visits within our partner parishes may be adjusted based on our partners’ needs and goals for our time together.

July 18 - 23: Kirsten spends the week in Iringa, working in her role as chair of the Saint Paul Area Synod's Iringa Committee.  Meetings with Iringa Diocese officials are planned, along with visits to secondary schools.

Sunday, July 24: Worship at Usolanga Parish. A visit to our third partner, bringing greetings and gifts of bicycles for lay evangelists. Then drive to Tungamalenga. Overnight at Tungamalenga Camp.

Monday, July 25: Partnership meetings with Tungamalenga Parish.

Tuesday, July 26: Partnership meetings with Makifu Parish.

Wednesday, July 27: Return to Iringa. Final meetings with Iringa Diocese and Bega Kwa Bega.

Thursday, July 28: Iringa

Friday, July 29:  Travel to Dar es Salaam. Late evening flight to Amsterdam.

Saturday, July 30:  Return Minneapolis/St Paul Airport


Thanks be to God who guides and sustains us on all our journeys.


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